Reciprocating mechanism



Aug. 1, 1933. T. PEscl RECIPROCATING MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1932 3 Sheeecs-Sfheerl 1 Q MQ hw l vENToR BY I ATTgNE i Aug. l, 1933.

'r. PEscl 1,920,591

REC IPROGATING MECHANI SM Filed July 5. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTo nul-4 /44-@0 ATTORN AUS@ 1 1933` T. PEscl 1,920,591

REC IPROCATING MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y@il L 7711-110717 4 l A ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECIPROCATING MECHANTSM Application July 5, 1932. Serial No. 620,968 19 Claims. (Cl. 164-73) This invention relates to mechanism for reciprocating a carrier or other member. uses contemplated for my invention is to actuate a travelling knife or cutter for severing strip material. In the manufacture of floor coverings,

for example, one of the steps of manufacture commonly consists in a printingoperation. The material is moved forward intermittently on a long endless conveyor, pausing periodically only long l0 enough to permit printing blocks, located above the material, to move downwardly kfor the printing operation. The material is cut off in desired lengths as it leaves the printing machine. Heretofore it has been customary to either cut the material by hand, or by a travelling knife which must move across the path of the material to be cut, and back to its starting point before coming to rest. The time required for the knife to travel across the path of the material to be cut and back to its starting point is ordinarily longer than the relatively short period, during the printing operation, when the Work material is stationary. Under such conditions it is necessary to shut down the Whole machine during each cutting operation, and, since this operation, in ordinary manufacturing practice, is repeated at relatively short intervals, a great deal of time is lost thereby, materially curtailing production. Obviously, if the carrier on which the cutter is mounted can be brought to rest at the end of its Vtravel in either direction across the path of the work material, the time' required for the cutting operation will be greatly reduced, and if the cutting operation can then be performed within the short period during which the work material is stationary, the necessity forshutting down the machine will be obviated, thereby effecting a great economy.

It is an object of this invention to provide a reciprocating member adapted to come to rest at the end of its stroke in either direction of travel.

Another object is to provide positive means for locking a phase-changing switch, described herein, in position during the working stroke.

Still another object is to provide a. simple device in which the' danger of accident isreduced to a minimum.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse view, partly in crosssection of a conveyor for strip material and of mechanism for reciprocating a knife bearing carrier across the path of the strip material;

Fig. 2 is a side view of one end of a conveyor One of the.

showing the cutting mechanism in end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly in cross-section, of part of the operating mechanism, including the cut-off switch G, phase changing switch H, and locking means associated with the latter;

Fig. 4 is a detail side view showing the cutting knife mounted on a travelling support or carrier;.

Fig. 5 is a detail end view of the members shown in Fig. 4; y

Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of an electrical 65 circuit for actuating my device;

Fig. '1 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line 7-'7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View of one of the contact members taken on the line 9-9 of Fig.

8; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view of locking means associated with. the phase-changing switch. y

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and-arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawingsjsince the invention 80 is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto appended as considered in view of the prior art and the requirements thereof.

As illustrated herein, Figs. l and 2, a carrier 10 is mounted on an endless chain 11 for movement across the path of the work material 12 which is leaving the machine (only partly shown) indicated generally as 13, and moving forward intermittently in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. The endless chain is supported on the sprockets 14 and 15 and is drivenby the gear 16 mounted on the shaft 17.

The shaft 17 is rotated by means of a worm gear 18 in engagement with the worm gear 19, 100 mounted on shaft 20 driven from the motor 2l, which in the embodiment of my invention described herein, is the source of power for actuating my mechanism. The electric circuit (see Fig. 6) of which the motor 21 forms a part, com- 165 prises the contact switch 22, and the automatically operable switches designated generally as G and H. Also mounted on shaft 17 is gear 23 from which gears 24 and 25 are driven simultaneously. The gears24 and 25 carry pinions 26 and 27, re- 110 spectively, by which the members G and H are respectively actuated.

The member H comprises a standard type of phase-changing switch including a rockable yoke 30 and a novel means for locking the yoke in fixed position. The yoke 30 is pivotecl at 31 and carries at either end the contact members or commutators 32 and 33, which are adapted to contact alternately with the periphery of the conducting member 34 with which a third contact or commutator 35a is in constant engagement. The member 34 is xed to the rotatable gear 35 which meshes with the pinion 27 and is rotated thereby. The member 34 has a projection or arm 36 adapted to engage the shoulders 37 and 38 on the respective ends of the yoke 30 and. as the gear 35 is reciprocated, this arm lifts the contact members 32 and 33 alternately out of engagement with the conducting member 34, thereby changing the phase of the electric circuit in a manner well known to those skilled in the art, and causing the shaft 20 to rotate in the opposite direction. lIt will be'understood that the yoke 30 is devised so that one end of the yoke will belifted by the arm36 on the member 34 at the end of the movement of the carrier in either direction of travel, thereby changing the phase of the circuit between each succeeding stroke.

In order to prevent accidental rocking of the yoke and to ensure positive contact between the member 34 and contacts 32 or 33 at all times an automatically operable locking means is pro vided. This means consists of a finger 40, fixed to the yoke, preferably at its central portion, which engages an opening 4l ,formedbetween two members 42a and 42h, which are pivoted at their outer ends and urged together at their inner ends by the springs 43 mounted on the bolts 45. These bolts, as illustrated, extend through both of the members 42a and42l) andare provided with the nuts 46 against which one end of the springs 43 abut. The opening 41 is restricted at its center, thus forming two spaces in/whichthe finger 40 may be received, but preventing movement of the finger from one space to the other so long as the members 42a and 42h are retained together. The tension of the springs 43 is such that the members 42a and 42h will ordinarily be retained in close contact, but will be readily separated by the linger 40 when the yoke 30is positively rocked by the arm 36 raising one end lof the yoke, thereby permitting the ringer to move into the other portion of the opening where it will again be locked until the yoke is again positively rocked.

The member G comprises an automatic cutoff switch for disconnecting the motor 21 at the end or the travel of the carrier in either direction across the path of the work material. As illustrated in Fig. 3, it comprises a rotatable gear 50, which engages and is driven by the pinion 26. Fixed to the gear 50 is a member 51 in which are supported thev semi-circular conducting rings 52 spaced apart at their ends leaving gaps 53. Commutators or contacts 54 are supported (Fig. 7) in position to travel on the conducting rings 52. The member G is: devised so that the commutators 54 will run off the conducting rings 52 into the gaps 53 at the end of the stroke of the carrier in either direction of travel, thus breaking the electric circuit and bringing the carrier to rest until it is again` actuated by the closing of the switch 22 (Fig. 6).

In Fig. 9, one of the contacts or commutators shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in connection with the members G and H is shown in detail. The spring 60 aids in maintaining positive contact between the commutators and the conducting rings 52 of cut-off switch G, and member 34 of phase-changing switch H, respectively. It will be understood that each of the commutators which serve as contact members, in connection with members G and H, are connected to the electric circuit illustrated in Fig. 6 by suitable leads 6l.

In Fig. 6, the electric connection between the motor 2l, cut-off switch member G and phase changing switch H are indicated. These connections are not described in detail, since they will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and of themselves constitute no part of my invention. A solenoidal brake 62 is made a part of the circuit and is adapted to prolong the life of the motor 21, by retarding thestarting and the stopping of the said motor, which occurs between each operation of the cutting device.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have illustrated the carrier 10 xed to the endless chain 11 by the rivet 70 and provided at either side with rollers 71 which travel on the tracks 72 supported upon the framework of the machine 13 below the work material and which, as illustrated, extend at right angles to the path of the work material. A double edged knife 73 is mounted on the carrier and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by the screw 74. Obviously, if it is desired, means other than the demountable knife 73 may be inserted in the carrier 10. r

In the operation of my device, the hand switch 22 is closed, thereby starting motor 21, which drives the endless chain 11 through the shaft 20, worm gears 19 and 18, shaft 17 and gear 16. At the same time, the gears 24 and 25 are simultaneously driven from gear 23, mounted on shaft 17, thereby actuating gears 35 and 50 of the members G and H respectively, through pinions 26 and 27. These'members are so devised that the contacts 54 of the member G will strike the spaces 53 between the ends of the conducting rings 52 thereby breaking the electrical circuit, at the same moment when the arm 36 is lifting one end of the yoke 30, thereby changing the phase of the motor 2l inthe manner described herein. The automatic cut-off switch G is adapted to break the electrical circuit, when the carrier has completed its travel in either direction. It will thus be seen that, as soon as the carrier means has completed its working stroke in either direction, it will be brought to a stop, due to the operation of the cut-off switch G, and simultaneously, the member H will be operated to change the phase of themotor 21, preparatory to the next stroke, whereby, when the switch 22 is next closed the carrier will be driven in a direction opposite to that of the previous operation. During the travel of the carrier, the rockable yoke of the phase changing switch will be locked in position, making it impossible for this switch to be operated while the carrier is in motion.

It will be understood that for each working stroke of the knife, the handy switch 22 is operated. In the operation of the apparatus described here in, an operator is stationed at the discharging end of the machine and attaches each new successive strip of material to a conveyor on which it is dried. When a strip of the desired length has been run through the machine, the operator closes the hand switch 22 at the beginning of one of the intermittent periods when the work is at rest. Since the knife travels only once across the path of the material, there is time enough to cut a clean, straight cut without necessitating an insaid carrier across the-line of travel of said strip in either direction, a switch for closing an electric circuit to start the movement of said carrier, and

means for opening said circuit at the terminationv of the stroke -in either direction.

2. In an apparatus for treating strip material, the combination of a carrier, means for moving said carrier across the lineof travel of said strip in either direction, a switch for closing an electric circuit to start the movement of said carrier, means for opening said circuit at the termination of the stroke in either direction, and means for reversing said carrier motivating means for successive strokes.

3. In an apparatus for cutting a travelling sheet of material into lengths, the combination of a cutter, the working stroke of which may be in either direction across the path of travel of said sheet, means for driving said cutter, an electric circuit for actuating said driving means, and means for automatically stopping said cutter at the end of each stroke and for changing the phase of said circuit preparatory to the succeeding stroke of said cutter.

4. In an apparatus for cutting sheet material, the combination of cutting means mounted on an endless chain for movement in either direction across the path of travel of said sheet material, means for driving said chain, an electric circuit for actuating said driving means, and means for automatically opening said circuit when the cutting means has reached the end of its travel in either direction.

5. In an apparatus for cutting sheet material, the combination of cutting means mounted on an endless chain for movement in either direction across the path of travel of said sheet material, means for driving said chain, an electric circuit for actuating said driving means, means for automatically opening said circuit when the cutting means has reached the end of its travel in either direction, and other means operated synchronously with said circuit opening means for changing the phase of said circuit whereby the direction of travel of said cutting means will be reversed for each working stroke.

6. In an apparatus for cutting sheet material, the combination of cutting means mounted on an endless chain for movement in either direction across the path of travel of said sheet material, means for driving said chain, an electric circuit for actuating said driving means, means for automatically opening said circuit when the cutting means has reached the end of its travel in either direction, other means operated synchronously with said circuit opening means for changing the phase of said circuit whereby the direction of travel of said cutting means will be reversed for each working stroke, and means for locking said phase changing means in position during the workin-g stroke of said cutting means.

7. In a step by step machine for printing strip material, the combination of cutting means comprising a knife adapted to perform a working stroke in either direction of travel, means actuated by the closing of an electric circuit to cause said knife to travel across said material, and automatic means for openingsaid circuit at the completion ofthe working stroke and for reversing the phase of said circuit preparatory for the next working stroke.

8. In an apparatus for cutting strip material, a cutting device adapted to perform a working stroke in either direction of travel across saidl strip material, means for actuating said knife, means for arresting said knife upon completion of its stroke in either direction, means for reversing said actuating means preparatory to the next working stroke, said latter means comprising a phase changing switch including a rockable yoke, and means for locking said yoke in fixed position during the working stroke of said cutting device.

9. In an apparatus for reciprocating one member across the path of a second member, an electric circuit including a phase changing switch, and means for locking said switch to prevent its operation during movement of said first member.

10. In an apparatus for reciprocating one member across the path of another member including an electric circuit, a phase changing switch comlprising a rockable yoke adapted to be rocked at the end of each stroke of said first member, and means to prevent said yoke from being accidentally rocked during movement of said first member.

11. In an apparatus for reciprocating one member across the path of another member including an electric circuit, a phase changing switch cornprising a rockable yoke adapted to be rocked at the end of each stroke of said first member, and means to prevent said yoke from being accidentally rocked during movement of said first member, said means comprising a finger fixed to said yoke and adapted to be received in alternative positions within a locking member, said locking member comprising two members yieldably held together and adapted to separate to permit said finger to move from one position to another when said yoke is positively rocked.

12. In an apparatus for reciprocating one member across the path of'another member, means for reciprocating said first member, and control means therefor comprising an electric circuit including a cut-olf switch and a phasev changing switch operated in synchronism.

13. In an apparatus for treating strip material, the combination of a carrier, means for moving said carrier across the line of travel of said strip material in either direction, an electric circuit for controlling said moving means, and means included in said circuit whereby the direction of travel of said carrier will be reversed for each successive stroke.

14. In an apparatus for treating strip material, the combination of a carrier, means for moving said carrier across the line of travel of said strip material in either direction, and an electric circuit for actuating said carrier motivating means, said circuit including a phase-changing switch operable at the end of each working stroke.

` 15. In an apparatus for treating strip material, the combination of a carrier, means for moving said carrier across the line of travel of said strip material in either direction, and an electric circuit for actuating said carrier motivating means, said circuit including a cut-off switch for termithe combination of a carrier, means for moving said carrier across the line of travel of said strip material in either direction, and an electric circuit for actuating saidcarrier motivating means, said circuit comprising a cut-off switch and means for automatically changing the phase of said circuit at the termination of each Working stroke.

18. In an apparatus for reciprocating one member across the path of another member including an electric circuit, a phase-changing switch comprising a rockable yoke adapted to be rocked at the end of each stroke of said first member, means to prevent said yoke from being accidentally rocked during movement of said iirst member, said means comprising a finger xed to said yoke, and a cooperatingmember adapted to engage said linger in a plurality of positions.

19. In an apparatus for reciprocating a carrier across the path of a work conveyor, driving means for said reciprocating carrier, a source of power, and an electric circuit including an automatically operable cut-off switch and a phase-changing switch.

THOMAS PESCI. 

